The Power of Ritual in Prehistory: Secret Societies and Origins of Social Complexity

ISBN-13: 9781108426398 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 410 str.

Brian Hayden

Opis

Secret societies in tribal societies turn out to be key to understanding the origins of social inequalities and state religions.

Recenzje

'This is a strong book and a fascinating account of practices … It gives us clear examples of secret societies in a variety of cultures and helps us get an appreciation for how they might have functioned in the past as well as how this undermines perceived notions of the role of religion in ancient societies.' Joanne M.A. Murphy, American Journal of Archaeology

Spis treści

1. The secret; Part I. The New World: 2. The complex hunter/gatherers of the American Northwest; 3. California; 4. The American Southwest and Mesoamerica; 5. Plains secret societies; 6. The Eastern woodlands and others; Part II. The Old World: 7. Oceania; 8. Chiefdoms in Central Africa; 9. West Africa; Part III. Implications For Prehistory: 10. Archaeological applications; 11. Conclusions.